Mumbai Police thrash people during Navratra celebration

Mumbai: Police in Mumbai thrashed devotees for playing loud music during the celebration of the festival of Navratra.

Groups of girls and boys were performing the traditional folk dance of ``Garba`` as part of the celebrations.

People complained to the police, who in turn thrashed the people without giving any notice.

“Policemen had come to the venue to check on the noise pollution. The whole crowd was there and ‘dandiya’ dance was being performed. The music was put off at around 9:30 pm and the police staff from Nirmal Nagar Police Station came to the venue at 10:30 pm and started baton-charging. The people could move out of the venue. People were brutally thrashed. About 80 percent of the people in the crowd were below 18 years,” said Jagdish Soni, a resident of the area.

The nine-day long Navratra festival is dedicated to Goddess Durga, a manifestation of the Mother Goddess in Hindu mythology.

It is believed that during the days of Navratra, Goddess Durga descends on earth to rid it of demons and bless her devotee subjects with happiness and prosperity.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Zone Viii, Namdev Chavan said senior officers have been directed to investigate the matter and added that whoever is found guilty would be punished.